Safety switch point



Oct. 30, 1923.

L. M. WENTLING SAFETY SWITCH POINT;

- Filed June 4, 1923 \w 7 J r v w mm /w/ \M 1% Patented Get. 3Q, 1923.

. L lian uirsu STATES PATENT oiuc,

nsrna M. wn v'rmne, or roxiaone, PENNSYLVANIA, assrenoa or ONE-EIGHTH TOGLEN v. GIBSON; or WEST MONTEREY, rENNsYLvANrA, ONE-EIGHTH TO ROBERT H.nowivrivs, SR, ONE-EIGHTH T0 or ST. rnranssnns,

ONE-EIGHTH TO ALBERT L. NEVEL, or EMLENTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SAFETY SWITCH POINT.

Application filed June 4, 1923. Serial No. 643,391.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnsrnn M. WENTLING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Foxburg, in the county of Clarion and State of Pennsylvania,have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety Switch Points, ofwhich the following is a specification.

It has been discovered that switch points now in use on railroads riseat their terminals subsequently to the wheels passing thereover, inwhich case the following pair of wheels strike the terminals very oftenresulting in breaking the switch point,

ing accidents. I

It is, therefore, the purpose of the present invention to avoid thesedifficulties by providing an improved switch point so constructed thatthe terminal thereof will remain in its proper position adjacent themain rail, in fact level or flush with the ball of the rail, therebypreventing the wheels from striking the terminal.

Another purpose isthe provision of a switch point provided with anangular channel adjacent its end portion and extending longitudinally ofthe switch point for suflicient distance so as to engage under the ballof the rail and retain the end portion of the switch point insuchposition as to prevent it from rising or springing up subsequent to thepassage of the wheels.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no waylimitative and that while still keeping within the scope of theinvention, any desired modifications of detail and desired proportionsmay be made in the apparatus according to the circumstances. 1

The invention comprises further features and combinations of parts to behereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch point constructed in accordance withthe inventiop, showing the same adjacent the main T311 0 making it verydangerous and at times caus- Figure 2 is a View in side elevation of theswitch point.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the main rail andthe endportion of the switch point in. position adjacent to the main rail, moreclearly showing the bevel at the terminal of the switch point wherebyROBERT H. nowivrne, an, nun ONE- 1 the wheels may readily engage withthe switch point.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation showing the side of the switch pointwhich lies adjacent one side of the mainrail.

Figure 5 is a sectionalview'on line 5-5 of Figure 8Q Figures 6 and 7 arerespectively detail perspective views of the switch point plates.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the switch point as a wholehaving its under portion from its terminal 2 fora distance terminatingat 3 undercut or recessed longitudinally, as shown at 4. This recess orundercut portion gradually tapers and diminishes at its terminationindicated at 3 so as to merge into the base of the switch point. Beyondthe point the base of the switch point is similar to the construction ofthe main rail. At a suitable location be tween the point where theundercut portion or recess 4 terminates and the end 5 of the switchpoint plates 6 and 7 are suitably secured preferably by bolts, rivets orthe like 9 and 8. These plates are corrugated or undulated, as shown at10 and 11.

The body portion of the switch point for a distance between a location12 and the end 13 of said body has the usual shaped head correspondingin contour to the ball of the main rail. the switchpoint graduallymerges or blends off into the web 15 of the switch point in order toprovide a surface that will lie in contact with the side of the mainrail. This web or surface'15 at a location 16 substantially midway thelocation 12 and the terminal of the switch point is provided with arecess 17 angular in cross section and extending longitudinally of theswitch point. This cut-away portion or recess 17 terminates at theextremity of the switch point However, this ball or head 14 of thelocation 16 into the surface or web 15.

This cut-away portion or recess 17 engages with and fits: under one sideof the ball of the main rail 18, as clearly shown in Figure 3, andthereby constitutes means to prcvent the end portion of the switch pointfrom rising subsequent to the passage of.

the car wheels.

The opposite face of the switch point adjacent the recess or cut-awayportion 17 for a distance not quite as long as the recess 17 isprovidedwith a beveled off surface or face 19 which tapers and merges orblends into the side of the switch point. This tapering bevel permitsthe car wheel to easily engage with and pass over the switch point whenit has been moved to a position adjacent the main rail.

At a suitable location on one side of the switch point; preferablyadjacent. the beveled off surface 19, are enlargements or protrusions 20which are provided with openings or apertures 21 which also are formedthrough the web of the switch point. These openings or apertures 21 aredesigned for the purpose of receiving suitable means (not shown) forfastening connecting rods (not shown) which unite the two switch points.The apertures or openings 21 adjacent where the switch point engages theside of the main rail have their ends rectangular in formation. Theserectangular ends are countersunk, as shown at 22, to receive the headsof the fastening bolts which fasten the connecting rods between the twoswitch points.

The invention having been set forth, what isclaimed is: V

1. A switch point comprising a body in cluding a tapered portion of alength substantially half the length of the switch point, the innersurface of the tapered portion adj acent the bottom being undercut toengage with and fit the base of the main rail, said tapered portion forhalf its length having a longitudinal recess angular in cross section toengage with and fit the under part of one side of the ball of the mainrail, the outer face of the switch point adjacent the extremity of theball of said point being provided with a beveled oft surface to causethe car wheels to engage with and ride the switch point, said taperedportion adj acent its extremity having enlargements with aperturesformed transversely therethrough and through the switch point web toreceive fastening-means for connecting rods.

' 2. A switch point comprising a body including a tapered portionundercut on the bottom to engage with and fit the base of th main railand recessed on the top to engage with and'fit the underpart of one sideof the ball of the main rail, said tapered portion adjacent itsextremities having en largements with apertures formed transverselytherethrough and through the switch point web for the reception ofconnecting rods, saidweb on the side opposite said enlargementsbeingcounterbored for the reception of connecting rod nuts.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LESTER M. WENTLING.

